Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Construction of a Realistic, Whole-Body, Three-Dimensional Equine Skeletal Model using Computed Tomography Data
Published on: February 25, 2021
Overview of horse body composition and muscle architecture: implications for performance
C F Kearns1, K H McKeever, T Abe
1Department of Animal Science, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Abstract:
Locomotion requires skeletal muscle to sustain and generate force. A muscle's force potential is proportional to its weight. Since the larger the muscle the larger its potential power output, a better understanding of the proportion of skeletal muscle a horse possesses may lead to a better understanding of horse performance. Several techniques exist to assess body composition, which include dual energy X-ray absorption, underwater (hydrostatic) weighing, derivation from total body water, bio-electric impedance, air displacement, body condition scoring, cadaver dissection and ultrasound. The relevance of each method to the equine industry will be discussed as will the practical information that the existing horse body composition studies have provided. Attention will be given to the data regarding the implications of body composition on the performance horse. The limited number of studies discussing different varieties of muscle architectures and the functional importance of these muscles will also be addressed. These body composition data may provide a better understanding of important issues in horse care that can lead to more optimal horse care techniques and a healthier and safer environment for horses.
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Overview of Muscle Tissues
Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of muscles to stretch and return to their original shape. This property is partly due to elastic fibers — macromolecules that run through the muscles. These fibers are firm and resilient,...
Overview of Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal Muscle Anatomy
Gross Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles
Overview of Anatomy and Physiology
